Italian educator, reformer.
She originated the Montessori method of education stressing development of initiative and freedom of the child.

The greatness of the human personality begins at the hour of birth. From this almost mystic affirmation there comes what may seem a strange conclusion: that education must start from birth.

If education is always to be conceived along the same antiquated lines of a mere transmission of knowledge, there is little to be hoped from it . . . . For what is the use of transmitting knowledge if the individual's total development lags behind?

And so we discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.

If we can, when we have established individual discipline, arrange the children, sending each one to his own place, in order, trying to make them understand the idea that thus placed they look well, and that it is a good thing to be placed in order . . .

Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war.

Published Sources for
the above Quotations:

F:

In "Words of Women Quotations for Success," by Power Dynamics Publishing, 1997.

R:

The Absorbent Mind, ch. 1 (1949).

A:

The Absorbent Mind, ch. 1 (1949).

N:

The Montessori Method, ch. 5, 1912.

K:

In "Words of Women Quotations for Success," by Power Dynamics Publishing, 1997.